Inflatable component for service or installation of a wind turbine module

Abstract

A wind turbine arrangement, that includes an inflatable component disposed within a hollow section of a wind turbine blade. The inflatable component is a platform usable during service and/or installation of a wind turbine module. The inflatable component includes an inflation structure with an air-tight shell. The air-tight shell includes an inner shell and an outer shell surrounding the inner shell. The outer shell includes a material that protects against puncture of the inner shell.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wind turbine arrangement, comprising
 an inflatable component disposed within a hollow section of a wind turbine blade, said inflatable component being a platform usable during service and/or installation of a wind turbine module,   wherein the inflatable component comprises an inflation structure with an air tight shell, and   wherein the air tight shell comprises an inner shell and an outer shell surrounding the inner shell, said outer shell comprising a material that protects against puncture of the inner shell.   
     
     
         2 . The wind turbine arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell includes polyvinyl chloride (PVC), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), rubber, or combinations thereof, and wherein the inner shell includes the polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The wind turbine arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the inner shell comprises of one or more compartments, wherein each compartment comprises a sealable passage, wherein each compartment is configured to be inflated with a gaseous fluid via the sealable passage and to be deflated via the sealable passage, and wherein the inner shell in each compartment and the outer shell are separated by a gap. 
     
     
         4 . The wind turbine arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the sealable passage in each compartment is bounded by a boundary comprising a surface area of both the inner shell in each compartment and the outer shell. 
     
     
         5 . The wind turbine arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the inner shell consists of the one compartment. 
     
     
         6 . The wind turbine arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the inner shell consists of the more than one compartment. 
     
     
         7 . The wind turbine arrangement of  claim 6 , wherein the inner shell in each compartment and the outer shell are mechanically joined at both a first portion and a second portion of a boundary that bounds the sealable passage in each compartment. 
     
     
         8 . The wind turbine arrangement of  claim 6 , wherein the sealable passage in each compartment includes a valve that enables the inner shell in each compartment to be inflated or deflated in a controlled manner. 
     
     
         9 . The wind turbine arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the after the platform has been inflated with a gaseous fluid, the platform has a circular shape or an oval shape having an area defined by a radius of the circular shape or by major and minor radii of the oval shape, respectively, and wherein the inflated platform comprises a material that contains the gaseous fluid and is continuously distributed throughout the area. 
     
     
         10 . The wind turbine arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the platform comprises a fibrous material disposed in the platform, said fibrous material being fibers extending through a thickness of the platform from a lowest layer of the platform to a highest layer of the platform. 
     
     
         11 . The wind turbine arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein the thickness of the platform, while the platform is inflated with the gaseous fluid and with the fibrous material being disposed in the platform, is at least a minimum thickness required to satisfy a specified minimum load bearing capacity requirement for the platform. 
     
     
         12 . The wind turbine arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein the fibers, upon being fully extended in a thickness direction of the platform, have a fixed length and are not flexible. 
     
     
         13 . The wind turbine arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein the fibrous material comprises a double wall fabric that includes a first layer of fabric as the lowest layer of the platform, a second layer of fabric as the highest layer of the platform, and stiches of yarn as the fibers between the first layer of fabric and the second layer of fabric. 
     
     
         14 . The wind turbine arrangement of  claim 13 , wherein the stiches of yarn are woven together. 
     
     
         15 . The wind turbine arrangement of  claim 13 , wherein the stiches of yarn are evenly spaced between the first layer of fabric and the second layer of fabric. 
     
     
         16 . The wind turbine arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein the fibers comprise polyester, nylon, kevlar, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The wind turbine arrangement of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a tarpaulin edge positioned above the platform and positioned interior to the outer pressure ring, wherein a plurality of strap configurations connect the tarpaulin edge to a safely safety net that is positioned above the tarpaulin edge.   
     
     
         18 . The wind turbine arrangement of  claim 17 , wherein each strap configuration comprises a lower strap having a first hole therein and a strap extender having a second hole therein, and wherein the lower strap and the strap extended extender are connected to each other by a shackle that passes through the first hole and the second hole. 
     
     
         19 . The wind turbine arrangement of  claim 17 , wherein a combination of a shape of the platform and a height of the safety net above the tarpaulin edge is selected from the group consisting of a first combination of a circular shape of the platform and a first height of the safety net and a second combination of an oval shape of the platform and a second height of the safety net, and wherein the first height is greater than the second height.